AWAKEN

Blending history, mystery and the supernatural, AWAKEN is a gripping thriller spanning two lifetimes.

In 2023, Sarah Reynolds, a medium and palliative care nurse, is called by Henry Husk’s daughter, Liz, to care for the dying Henry. As unsettling memories begin to surface, Sarah is drawn into a mystery that reaches back to the witch persecutions of 1653.

As past and present collide, long-buried truths emerge, challenging everything Sarah believes about history, justice and the women once condemned as witches.

Part historical drama, part supernatural thriller, AWAKEN shines a light on working-class women and the almost-erased world of cunning folk healers. Partially written in Canting – the lost language that predates Cockney – it reclaims the wisdom, healing and resilience of the women history branded as witches.

AWAKEN was originally developed with support from Arts Council England, Park Theatre, Beacon Arts Centre and The Actors Temple. A site-responsive adaptation of the 1653 storyline was later commissioned by Revoluton Arts and the Luton Create Fund for Luton Henge Festival 2026.

Content advisory: AWAKEN contains references to sexual violence, abortion, suicide and the persecution of those accused of witchcraft. Recommended for audiences aged 14+.

Tags: 5dtheatre, autumn2026, drama, group, ThePlace